I'm thinking about buying a 1989 325ix but I heard their very costly to mentain? Also the guy selling it said it may need a new head gasket because it over heats in stop and go traffic but iit's fine when highway driven :/ but he's not sure. It idles pretty rough but that could mean it just needs a tune up

Should I gamble or pass on it?

richie_s999

03-26-2013 07:33 AM

I'd walk from that one, never buy something with a known cooling system problem. It maybe a cracked head or block, and if its the block, the ix has a differen cast block, and changing the motor is a m....r f..k..g nightmare

They are time consuming to work on, anything driveline related takes twice to three times as long to do,

Slow36

03-26-2013 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richie_s999
(Post 1603233)

I'd walk from that one, never buy something with a known cooling system problem. It maybe a cracked head or block, and if its the block, the ix has a differen cast block, and changing the motor is a m....r f..k..g nightmare

They are time consuming to work on, anything driveline related takes twice to three times as long to do,

Ugh that's what I've been hearing, thanks for your input man. Lol I thought it would be worth the risk for $800

davericher20

03-26-2013 10:46 AM

If it heats up in stop and go traffic, you're looking at a fan clutch. Maybe that's the only thing it needs. But if its ever been overheated I'd stay away. (Is the owner going to tell you that....likely not)..... but first Check for diarrhea coolant, or milky oil, or white smoke out the tailpipe. I drove with a bad hg for over 2 years until one of my hoses exploded from the oil eating away at them, not the engine blowing up. So a $800 ix doesn't sound bad if it only needs a fan clutch. And you could get a couple years driving out of it if the oil is leaking into the coolant, if coolant is in the oil, move on.
As for working on it.....hehe.....it took 3 hours to take the whole front end out with the engine.......it took 2 days to get it back in.

propr'one

03-26-2013 12:17 PM

325ix's aren't difficult to maintain. if its just the head a regular m20 i head is a direct swap

Ceeker

03-26-2013 03:01 PM

agreed, they aren't difficult to maintain; however, the driveline is something which needs regular fluid changes to keep the transfer case clean. but, there is no way of telling whether the car has been abused and no way of telling when the transfer case can quit.
this is the expensive part. Control arms are also expensive. since he's pretty much said it's been overheating for a while there is a good chance the car needs a head. the rough running issue could either be vacuum leak (usually the intake bellow-black elbow) or it's been overheated so bad the motor is running like crap. unless you have experience and know what you're doing stay away. if you're handy it could be a good car once it is diagnosed and fixed.

propr'one

03-26-2013 03:42 PM

There's a magnetic plug in the Tcase which keeps stuff pretty clean, unless it was ran low on fluid it should be fine.

i beat the **** out of my iX every chance i had for many years. lots of stuff broke, but never the driveline.

Ceeker

03-26-2013 04:31 PM

lucky you..it's been my experience having a few that the front input shaft spine gets stripped and causing slipping. requires either removal to repair or cheat it by take welding the front shaft to the transfer case. :-)

Slow36

03-26-2013 11:06 PM

Thanks for all the input guys! As much as I want a e30 I think I may have to pass on this deal and carry on with my e36 project :/